SECTION A – CASE QUESTIONS (Total: 50 marks)

To: Faria LEE (Director), MCL

From: Pindy LEE, Accounting Manager, MCL
c.c.: Beverly CHOW, Emily WILSCON, Charmaine YUEN (Directors)
Date: dd/mm/yyyy

I refer to your e-mail dated 18 May 2008 regarding your queries about the draft
consolidated financial statements for MCL as at 31 March 2008.

Answer 1(a)(i)

Plant and equipment

In accordance with HK(SIC)-Int 27, we are required to evaluate the substance of the
transaction with the bank which involves the legal form of a lease.

Since the overall economic effect of the transactions cannot be understood without
reference to the series of transactions as a whole, it is concluded that the series of the sale
and the lease is linked and shall be accounted for as one transaction.

The sale and leaseback arrangement with the bank does not, in substance, involve a lease
under HKAS 17 as MCL retains substantially all the risks and rewards incident to
ownership of the underlying asset and enjoys substantially the same rights to its use as
before the arrangement.

If the legal form is ignored, the substance of the arrangement is a financing arrangement in
which the seller-lessee (MCL) borrows money from the lessor (the bank) using the asset as
security.

Since MCL’s risk and rewards incident to owning the plant and equipment have not
substantively changed, the amount of HK$12 million of plant and equipment should remain
in the consolidated balance sheet.

Answer 1(a)(ii)

The Investment in SWL from 31 March 2007 to 31 March 2008

(1) Status before and after the disposal

Before the disposal, MCL held 60% of the issued shares of SWL.

In accordance with HKAS 27, control is presumed to exist since MCL directly owns more
than one half of the voting power of SWL (and there is no indication that such ownership
does not constitute control).

Therefore, SWL was a subsidiary of MCL at 31 March 2007, and MCL was a parent at that
date.

After the disposal of 2,400,000 shares in SWL, MCL held a 30% interest in SWL in total.

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MCL had significant influence, but not control, over SWL from the date of the disposal, i.e.
30 September 2007.

Thereafter, SWL was classified as an associate under HKAS 28 Investments in Associates

from the date that it ceased to be a subsidiary.

(2) The effect of disposal on MCL’s consolidated financial statements

MCL’s remaining 30% investment in SWL should be accounted for using the equity method
under which the investment would initially be recognised at cost as of 30 September 2007.

The carrying amount of the investment at the date that SWL ceased to be a subsidiary, i.e.
30 September 2007, shall be regarded as the cost on initial measurement.

During the period from 1 October 2007 to 31 March 2008 (after the disposal of the
2,400,000 shares), the investment in 30% equity interest in SWL shall be accounted for by
the equity method.

Under the equity method, the investment should be initially recognised at cost and the
carrying amount increased or decreased to recognise MCL’s share of SWL’s profit or loss
after the date SWL became an associate. MCL’s share of SWL’s profit or loss will be
recognised in MCL’s consolidated profit or loss.

HKAS 27 states that the income and expenses of a subsidiary are included in the
consolidated financial statements from the acquisition date, i.e. the date on which the
acquirer effectively obtains control of the acquiree, until the date on which the parent
ceases to control the subsidiary. Thus, SWL’s income and expenses from 1 April 2007 to
30 September 2007 should be included in the consolidated financial statements for the
year ended 31 March 2008.

The difference between the proceeds from the disposal of the subsidiary and its carrying
amount as of the date of disposal is recognised in the consolidated income statement as
the gain or loss on the disposal of the subsidiary.

In MCL’s separate financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2008, the investment
in SWL would continue to be accounted for at cost.

Answer 1(a)(iii)

Difference in gains on disposal at entity and consolidated level

During the period from 1 April 2007 to 30 September 2007 (before the disposal of the
2,400,000 shares), the investment in 60% equity interest in SWL shall be accounted for as
a subsidiary.

The difference between the proceeds from the disposal of a 30% equity interest in SWL
and its carrying amount in the consolidated financial statements as of the date of disposal
is recognised in the consolidated income statement as the gain or loss on the disposal of
the subsidiary.

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The relevant carrying amount as of the date of disposal to be recognised in the
consolidated income statement should have already been increased or decreased to
recognise MCL’s share of SWL’s profit or loss after the date of acquisition since MCL’s
share of SWL’s profit or loss will be recognised in MCL’s consolidated profit or loss.

However, when separate financial statements are prepared, investments in subsidiaries

shall be accounted for either at cost, or in accordance with HKAS 39.

In this case, MCL stated the investment at cost. Thus the calculation of gain or loss on
disposal will be based simply on the difference between proceeds from the disposal and
the cost of the investment.

Answer 1(a)(iv)

Impact of rights issue on EPS of MCL for 2008

In this rights issue, the exercise price ($9) of the rights issue is less than the fair value of
the shares ($12). Therefore such a rights issue includes a bonus element.

In calculating the basic EPS for the current year, the number of ordinary shares from 1 April
2007 to 31 December 2007 to be used in calculating basic earnings per share would be
adjusted by the following bonus factor:

Fair value per share immediately prior to the exercise of rights

Theoretical ex-rights fair value per share

Theoretical ex-rights price to identify the bonus factor:

The theoretical ex-rights fair value per share is calculated by adding the aggregate fair
value of the shares immediately prior to the exercise of the rights to the proceeds from the
exercise of the rights, and dividing by the number of shares outstanding after the exercise
of the rights.

• 2 shares at fair value of $12 prior to rights issue = $24

• 1 share at discounted rights issue price of $9 = $9
• Ex-rights price (3 shares at fair value of $33 after issue) = $33/3 = $11

The bonus factor = $12 / $11 = 1.09

Since the rights issue is made part way through the year (1 January 2008), a
time-apportionment is required.

Thus, weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding:

• 10,000,000 shares x 12/11 x 9/12 = 8,181,818
• plus (10,000,000 + 5,000,000) shares x 3/12 = 3,750,000
= 11,931,818

The comparative basic EPS i.e. basic EPS for the year ended 31 March 2007, should be
adjusted accordingly by the factor of 1.09.

Module A (February 2008 Session) Page 3 of 10

I hope the above explanation has answered your questions. Please feel free to contact
me if you have further queries.

Best regards
Pindy Lee

Answer 1(b)

Consolidated income statement of MCL for the year ended 31 March 2008

SWL as
MCL FSL subsidiary Adjust Note Consolidated
HK$'000 HK$'000 HK$'000 HK$'000 HK$'000
Turnover 300,000 140,000 36,250 (1,000) (i) 475,250
Cost of sales (243,000) (112,000) (29,000) 900 (i) (383,100)
Gross profit 57,000 28,000 7,250 92,150
Distribution costs (15,000) (7,500) (2,000) (24,500)
Administrative
expenses (10,000) (5,000) (1,250) (16,250)
Depreciation
and amortisation (3,000) (1,500) (500) (5,000)
Profit from
operations 29,000 14,000 3,500 46,400
Gain on disposal
of subsidiary 3,000 - - (900) (ii) 2,100
Finance costs (4,000) (2,000) (500) (6,500)
Share of profit of
associates - - - 600 (iii) 600
Profit before tax 28,000 12,000 3,000 42,600
Tax (7,000) (5,000) (1,000) (13,000)
Profit for the year 21,000 7,000 2,000 29,600

Attributable to:
Equity holders of the parent 26,730
Minority interest (iv) 2,870
29,600

Note:
(i) To eliminate intragroup sales and unrealised profit on inventory on upstream sales:
Sales to be reduced by $1,000,000
Inventory to be reduced by ($1,000,000 x 25/125 x ½) = $100,000
Thus, Cost of sales to be reduced by $900,000

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(ii) Gain on disposal recorded in MCL’s separate financial statements
Proceeds from the disposal = $8,000,000
Less: Carrying amount of investment in SWL = $10,000,000 x 24/48 = $5,000,000
Gain on disposal = $3,000,000

Gain on disposal recorded in group accounts

Proceeds from the disposal = $8,000,000
Less: Carrying amount of 30% interest in SWL at 30 September 2007 = $5,900,000*
Gain on disposal = $8,000,000 - $5,900,000 = $2,100,000

* Carrying amount of 30% interest in SWL at 30 September 2007

a) Share of net assets of SWL on disposal

• Share capital = $8,000,000
• Reserves as at 31 March 2007 = $8,000,000
• Increase in reserves from 1 April 2007 up to 30 September 2007 =
$(4,000,000 x 6/12) = $2,000,000
Net assets of SWL on disposal = $18,000,000

b) plus: Goodwill = [$10,000,000 – 60% x (8,000,000 + 7,000,000)] = $1,000,000

Thus share of net assets including the goodwill element = $18,000,000 x 30% +
$1,000,000 x 30%/60% = $5,900,000

(iii) This means the share of associates’ profit attributable to equity holders of the
associates, i.e. it is after tax and minority interests in the associates (1 October 2007
to 31 March 2008): $2,000,000 x 30% = $600,000

(iv) Minority interest =

($7,000,000 - $100,000) x 30% = $2,070,000
+ $2,000,000 x 40% = $800,000
= $2,870,000

* * * END OF SECTION A * * *

Module A (February 2008 Session) Page 5 of 10

SECTION B – ESSAY / SHORT QUESTIONS (Total: 50 marks)

Answer 2(a)

Hong Kong Financial Reporting Standards ("HKFRSs") includes all Hong Kong Financial
Reporting Standards, Hong Kong Accounting Standards (HKASs) and Interpretations
issued by the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants (the "HKICPA") and
currently in issue.

HKFRSs set out recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure requirements for
transactions and events that are important for all general purpose financial statements.

They may also set out requirements for transactions and events that arise in specific
industries.

The application of HKFRSs, with additional disclosure when necessary, is presumed to

result in financial statements that give a true and fair view.

Accounting Guidelines (“AGs”) have effect as guidance statements and indicators of best
practice. They are persuasive in intent.

Unlike HKFRSs, AGs are not mandatory, but are consistent with the purpose of HKFRSs in
that they help define accounting practice in the particular area or sector to which they refer.

Therefore, they should normally be followed, and members of the HKICPA should be
prepared to explain departures if called upon to do so.

Answer 2(b)

Relevance is one of the four principal qualitative characteristics that make the information
provided in the financial statements useful to users.

The relevance of information is affected by its materiality.

Information is material if its omission or misstatement could influence the economic

decisions of users taken on the basis of the financial statements.

It is immaterial and, therefore, irrelevant if it would have no impact on a decision maker. In

short, it must make a difference or it need not be disclosed.

Materiality depends on the size of the item or error judged in the particular circumstances of
its omission or misstatement. It is difficult to provide firm guidance to judge when a given
item is or is not material.

Materiality provides a threshold or cut-off point rather than being a primary qualitative
characteristic which information must have if it is to be useful.

Module A (February 2008 Session) Page 6 of 10

Answer 3(a)

Deferred tax position at 31 December 2007 accounted for in GP's consolidated financial
statements:

Carrying amount of the printing machine at 31 December 2007:

HK$20,000,000 * [1 – (4.5 years / 16 years)]

= HK$14,375,000

Tax base at 31 December 2007:

HK$20,000,000 * [1 – (1 – 0.1) * (4.5 years / 10 years)]

= HK$11,900,000

Taxable temporary difference:

Carrying amount – Tax base

= HK$14,375,000 – HK$11,900,000
= HK$2,475,000

Deferred tax liability:

HK$2,475,000 * 25%(1)
= HK$618,750
(1)
Deferred tax assets and liabilities shall be measured at the tax rates that are expected to apply to
the period when the asset is realised or the liability is settled, based on tax rates (and tax laws)
that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the balance sheet date. 2003 is the first
profit-making year for GP, the company will have full tax exemption for 2003 and 2004, and then
be subject to 50% reduction for 2005 to 2007 (i.e. 12%). Afterward, the tax rate is 25%. As
the taxable temporary difference will be reversed after 2007, the tax rate applied for deferred tax
computation is 25%.

Answer 3(b)

Journal entries to record the deferred income taxes at 31 December 2008 for GP's
consolidated financial statements:

HK$ HK$
DR Deferred tax – Income statement 137,500
CR Deferred tax liability 137,500

Carrying amount of the printing machine at 31 December 2008:

HK$20,000,000 * [1 – (5.5 years / 16 years)]

= HK$13,125,000

Tax base at 31 December 2008:

HK$20,000,000 * [1 – (1 – 0.1) * (5.5 years / 10 years)]

= HK$10,100,000

Module A (February 2008 Session) Page 7 of 10

Taxable temporary difference:

Carrying amount – Tax base

= HK$13,125,000 – HK$10,100,000
= HK$3,025,000

Deferred tax liability:

HK$3,025,000 * 25%
= HK$756,250

Increase in deferred tax liability in 2008:

= HK$756,250 – HK$618,750
=HK$137,500

Answer 3(c)

Amount of deferred taxes to be shown on GP’s consolidated balance sheet at 31 December

2008:

Deferred tax asset HK$500,000

Deferred tax liability HK$756,250

GP’s deferred tax asset cannot be offset against the deferred tax liability of BP as the two
entities' income taxes are NOT levied by the same taxation authority.

Answer 4

Building A - Warehouse

As a warehouse for storage of inventories, it was accounted for as property, plant and
equipment under HKAS 16 prior to the vacating of the warehouse.

At 31 December 2007, this building should continue to be classified as property, plant and
equipment after removal of the inventories to the new production plant in Shenzhen as CLL
has no intention of selling it.

Accordingly, the building is carried at cost less any accumulated depreciation and any
accumulated impairment loss.

Cost less accumulated depreciation: HK$20 million x (1- (8/30)) = HK$14.67 million.

As the fair value of the building (HK$28 million) is higher than the cost less accumulated
depreciation (HK$14.67 million), no impairment is recognised.

Building B – Director's quarter

As a director's quarter, it was formerly accounted for as property, plant and equipment
under HKAS 16 prior to being vacated.

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At 31 December 2007, this building should be classified as a non-current asset held for
sale under HKFRS 5 as its carrying amount will be recovered principally through a sale
transaction rather than through continuing use.

The building was available for immediate sale in its present condition subject only to the
terms that are usual and customary for sales of such assets as it had already been
vacated.

Also, as the management of CLL had made the decision to sell the building in a board
meeting and appointed a property agent to actively identify potential buyers, it can assume
that a sale is highly likely.

At 31 December 2007, the building should be measured at the lower of carrying amount
and fair value less costs to sell.

Carrying amount = HK$36 million x (1 - (10/30)) = HK$24 million.

Fair value less costs to sell = HK$22 million x (1 - 0.5%) = HK$21.89 million.

Accordingly, Building B is stated at HK$21.89 million on the balance sheet as at 31

December 2007.

Building C – Earning rental income

As a building held for earning rental income, it was accounted for as investment property
under HKAS 40 prior to being vacated.

As in the case of Building B, this building should be classified as a non-current asset held
for sale under HKFRS 5.

According to HKFRS 5.5, the measurement provisions of HKFRS 5 do not apply to the
non-current assets that are accounted for in accordance with the fair value model in HKAS
40.

Since CLL accounts for investment property at fair value model, Building C will continue to
be measured in accordance with HKAS 40.

The fair value of Building C at 31 December 2007 is HK$22 million.

Answer 5(a)

Under HKAS 37, a provision should be recognised when and only when:

An entity has a present obligation (legal or constructive) as a result of a past event, and it is
probable that an outflow of resources embodying economic benefits will be required to
settle the obligation, and a reliable estimate can be made of the amount of the obligation.

According to HKAS 37.19, it is only those obligations arising from past events that exist
independently of the reporting entity's future actions that are recognised as provisions.

The provision for the late delivery penalty is a provision for future operating losses as the
delivery date of the 7,000,000 units of rechargeable battery is 31 August 2008.

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Since the delivery will be expected on 10 September 2008, the compensation per unit will
be HK$0.1 per unit (10 days x HK$0.01) and the total compensation will be HK$700,000.

This compensation will reduce the expected gross profit, but will not result in an onerous
contract for DCL.

Accordingly, no provision is required for this late delivery penalty as at 30 June 2008.

Answer 5(b)

As at 30 June 2008, DCL has no obligation to perform the safety inspection of the
production line, accordingly no provision should be recognised.

The cost for the inspection should be recognised as expense when incurred.

OR

The information provided in the question has not stated whether DCL, by an established
pattern of past practice, published policies or a sufficiently specific current statement, has
indicated to other parties that it must carry out the safety inspection on an annual basis and
therefore, it has created a valid expectation on the other parties in respect of this activity.

If there is evidence to prove the above, this can be considered as a constructive obligation
and therefore a provision should be provided.

Answer 5(c)

Any future loss on sales of aged finished goods should be considered in the measurement
of the net realisable value of the inventory under HKAS 2 instead of HKAS 37.

The net realisable value is the estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business
less the estimated costs of completion and the estimated costs necessary to make the sale.

Sales of finished goods at a price below the cost immediately after the balance sheet date
(July 2008) is a strong indicator of the amount of net realisable value at 30 June 2008.

Accordingly, this should be recorded as a write down of inventories and no separate

provision should be recognised in the current liabilities.

Answer 5(d)

DCL has an obligation to pay the bonus to two executive directors in accordance with the
directors' service contract.

It should be possible to make a reliable estimate of the provision amount based on the
amount of profit before tax and the accrued bonus.

Accordingly, a provision should be recognised as at 30 June 2008.

* * * END OF EXAMINATION PAPER * * *

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